Evaluating Client Outcomes and Experiences in a Student-Led Clinic: A Pretest–Posttest Study

Purpose: Despite the unique service models and educational opportunities they provide, student-led clinics remain scarce in social work. This evaluation study reports client outcomes and service experience feedback from a social work student-led mental health counseling clinic. Methods: The evaluation used chart reviews and a client experience survey. Results: A total of 236 clients (67.2% women; mean age = 37.72 years; 63.1% non-white) were seen over a 3-year period. Among clients with a planned termination ( n = 144, 61.0%), significant and clinically meaningful reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms were observed. The proportion screening positive declined from 68.0% to 36.1% on the GAD-2 and from 54.1% to 26.2% on the PHQ-2 (both p < .001), with medium-to-large effect sizes. Over 90% of survey respondents agreed that services were client-centered, safe, timely, efficient, and effective. Conclusions: These findings support the effectiveness and acceptability of a student-led clinic in social work.